What In Tarnation?!?!? In the Classroom

Previously on WIT?!?!?:

• 2002 in TV
• Best and Worst of 2003 II
• Top 10 List 2004: TV
• TV of 2005

The tradition continues and because I know you really want to know what I think… (ahem!) I present my round-up of the TV of 2006. In previous years I have had a top ten list and a bottom five list but I think I like last year’s method of simply listing the TV I liked and the TV I didn’t like. This year I add little arrow icons that indicate whether the show is on the way up (up arrow ) on the way down (down arrow ) or staying even (sideways arrow ) from last year or the beginning of the year. If I haven’t seen the show (I’m talking to you The Wire) it won’t appear on the list. Let’s go…

TV Show I Like

• Heroes (NBC) - Normally every TV season has one TV show that just blows me away. In the past it has been shows like 24, Lost, and Firefly, this season it was definitely Heroes. A poor man’s X-Men? Nah, not really. A rip-off of The 4400? Nope, this is different. The group of people discovering that they have new powers has made for a fast paced serialized drama (Lost, you could learn a few things). Most interesting has been how these people are beginning to realize that they are going to have to work together to stall off the coming Armageddon. My question: Can they keep up the pace and keep the story going for the rest of season two and on into season 2? I hope so.
• 24 (FOX) - This series picked up its game for Day 6. What they did right includes the addition of the seemingly clueless President who turns out to be one of the bad guys, they cut out all the extra stuff personal stuff with Jack. They did take the surprise deaths a little too far. I was fine with the characters who had been around for all of 24’s seasons but Edgar? One of the most traumatic moments in TV this year.
• The Office (NBC) - Some of the most uncomfortable TV to watch can be found on The Office. Boss Michael Scott probably has his heart in the right place but he has this incredible knack for unknowingly getting himself into trouble. He is just totally clueless half the time. Last year this show was on my list of shows I would probably like but just can’t get around to watching for one reason or another. I still have the same problem this season but thanks to iTunes, I haven’t had to miss a single episode and I caught up with season two when I purchased the season 2 DVD set. The best comedy on TV bar none.
• Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC) - Is S6otSS too preachy, talky and too similar to the West Wing in tone? A resounding yes to all those questions. But I still enjoy the quick wit and humor of the show.
• Battlestar Galactica (SciFi) - Still one of the better dramas on TV but things have waned for me. I don’t think I am as engaged with the Cylons illness and having Baltar being separated from BG. Now all he does is the nasty with two of the Cylons. Yawn.
• Boston Legal (ABC) - Despite the icky mommy and son love story from this season, this series consistently makes me laugh. This season has also brought some strange tonal shifts that I actually like. It goes from serious drama a la The Practice to farcical comedy a la Ally McBeal. This season’s Christmas episode was pulled out of the Ally McBeal play book. One problem though, too many characters! Time to trim it down somehow. And the relationship between Denny and Allan is still one the best male friendships on TV.
• Dirty Jobs (Discovery) - Sometimes I can’t make it through a whole episode but host Mike Rowe is the best on this type of show.
• Lost (ABC) - I like Ben Linus of the Others (EW says Michael Emerson’s performance is a breakout but he was just as evil on The Practice as a killer/stalker) but is it just me or is this series going nowhere real fast. When we do get answers they are insignificant or don’t add up to anything. Heroes had some major questions answered by mid-season! Lost is quickly becoming frustrating, like X-Files frustrating.
• Prison Break (FOX) - Quite simply not as good as last season. Please, please don’t extend this into another season!
• High School Musical (Disney) - Don’t tell me you are surprised that this is here.
• Veronica Mars (CW) - I like the new format. They got rid of the season long mystery in favor of mini-mysteries that are solved over the course of the third of a season. Unfortunately I missed the first quarter of the season.
• Amazing Race/Survivor (CBS) - Both seasons were a pretty big snooze this time around though Survivor did become more interesting in the last few episodes. An All Stars edition doesn’t bode well for Amazing Race.
• House (FOX) - I recently started watching reruns of House when I wasn’t watching something else. It is pretty universally adored.
• Feasting on Asphalt (FOOD) - Quite simply the best food travelogue show. End of story. Well, sure the last episode faltered after AB crashed his bike but let’s not hold that against him. AB traveled across the US using smaller two lane roads whenever possible finding local food that brings insight to what the United States is all about and food. Everything from AB’s plucky narration, to the music, to the beautiful photography, to all the stops along the way were perfect. It is that simple. My hope is that he does it again except north to south or east to west farther north or south from the route that he took this time. Pretty please AB? Please?

TV to Ignore

• The Nine (ABC) - This show just couldn’t find a good tone. The episodes were pretty uneven. I tired. I really did.
• Shark (ABC)
  
• Brothers and Sisters (ABC)
• Ugly Betty (ABC)
  
• Friday Night Lights (NBC)
• Deal or No Deal/1 vs. 100/Show Me the Money/Identity (NBC)
• The Class

Did I miss something. Be sure you tell me in the comments.

Class dismissed!